Finding True Beauty and Balance in Leadership w/ Erika Johnson
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Transcript
From the national gymnastics stage to the front lines of community revitalization, Erika Johnson, Founder of Juice EJ, has dedicated her life to building a healthier, more equitable future. In this inspiring conversation, she opens up about a profound family health crisis that completely shifted her trajectory and sparked her booming wellness brand. Unpacking her journey through pageantry, entrepreneurship, and faith, she shares powerful insights on mastering the art of detachment and finding absolute balance in high-impact leadership.
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Credits: Host: Lisa Nichols, Executive Producer: Jenny Heal, Marketing Support: Joe Szynkowski & Dylan Price, Podcast Engineer: Portside Media
Erika Johnson
So beauty is surface. It's skin deep, and we all need to understand that it doesn't matter how much Botox filler, ice facing we're going to age. So you need to find beauty from within and exude that. You know? Beauty is, bringing someone behind you and and encouraging them. Beauty can show up in so many different ways. It's not just vanity. And being around these women who are drop dead gorgeous and then you see that we all have our insecurities, but then just persevering, pushing and encouraging each other through that, you know, that's beauty. Lisa Nichols
It takes something a little more to lead with impact. I'm Lisa Nichols, author of Something Extra, and this podcast was inspired by our daughter, Allie, whose additional chromosome has shaped how I see people in leadership. Each episode features conversations with inspiring leaders from around the world about what truly defines how they lead and serve others. If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider leaving a five star review. It helps more people discover the show. And if you'd like to go deeper, my book, Something Extra, is available on Amazon and through other major book retailers. From the world of national gymnastics in the Miss Missouri stage to the front lines of community revitalization, Erica Johnson is a Saint Louis powerhouse dedicated to building a healthier, more equitable future. She is the founder of Juice EJ, a wellness brand born from her family's personal health journey. Please join me in welcoming an entrepreneur and advocate who proves that true beauty is found in the legacy we leave for others, Erica Johnson. Well, Erica Johnson, welcome to the Something Extra podcast. Erika Johnson
Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure. Lisa Nichols
I am so excited to make this happen with you. And you and I met recently Erika Johnson
Yes. Lisa Nichols
At the Sofia Awards. And, Erica I mean, what an amazing organ. I left there so inspired at what Dawn Price has built. Erika Johnson
Absolutely incredible and just such a room of dynamic powerful women. It was just an honor to be a part of it. Absolutely. Lisa Nichols
I agree. I agree. And for those listeners who don't know, the Sofia project, they are mentoring, I think Dawn said, about fifteen hundred inner city girls right now. They pair them with mentors. And so many of the girls were participating that day, and I was so impressed. Erika Johnson
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Absolutely. Their speaking skills and their presence. Right? Absolutely. And I was just thinking to myself, we need more mentors. Erika Johnson
Yes. We do. Especially here in our great city of Saint Louis. So, you know, you and I, it's an honor to be able to be a part of it and see how we can further get involved. So Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. No doubt. You know? And it's just so funny because you and I were sitting at the same table, Erica. We never met before, but there was an instantaneous connection. And, you know, I think I think a lot of it's our faith, and I wanna talk about that, because I know faith is important to you, and it's everything for me. So, we'll talk about that. But, you know, let's let's let's dive on in. My goodness. I I was I was as I was preparing for today's interview, I'm thinking, you know, you've gone from gymnastics to journalism to pageantry to entrepreneurship. You have done a lot. You're like a renaissance woman. Erika Johnson
I am a serial entrepreneur. Yes. I am. Lisa Nichols
You are. Well, let me ask you this, and then I'm gonna ask you about each one of those things. You know, what is the thread that connects all of those things Erika Johnson
for you? Right timing. God's divine timing. I would say every single venture that I have had has been just anointed, and maybe I met someone or there was the right circumstance and, you know, it just presented itself and took off. So Lisa Nichols
That's that's amazing. Well, you were a young gymnast. I know that you trained for, like, ten years, you know, at a very high performing level. Tell me about how that shaped you as a young girl, and then I would love to hear from you, Erica. What are some of those character traits that you learned through gymnastics and and working that hard that you still carry with you today in what you're doing? Erika Johnson
Absolutely. So, you know, I feel like any individualized sport is gonna really just shape you and mold you because you're accountable to yourself. There is no one else to blame if you fall short. It's literally on your own shoulders. So, I trained for ten years under Scott and Debbie Cusimano out at Jim Quarters Gymnastics Center where I competed nationally. And I would definitely say the friendships, the relationships, the discipline, just my level of ambition to persevere through pain and injury has definitely shaped me to be the woman that I am today. So I'm very, very grateful to them for their love. I mean, I trained so much. They became my extended family, you know, at five years old, between five and and and I'm sorry. Yeah. Five and and fifteen. That was just such a big instrumental part of my life. And eating with them, I had to to do my homework at the gym. It was four hours a day of training, and, you know, you're traveling with the team. So it just it literally becomes your extended family. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. I'm I'm glad that you mentioned that because I was gonna ask you, how many hours a day did you train? So you went to school. Right? And then you went to the gym, and you trained for four hours. I mean, how many days a week, Erica? Erika Johnson
Monday through Friday, four hours. And then Saturday, I trained from nine to one. And then I did private lessons after that. Lisa Nichols
My goodness. What were your dreams? Were you hoping to go to the Olympics? Erika Johnson
I did. I really wanted to. My family really wanted that for me. God had other plans, and I don't, you know, ever disagree with that plan. I had some injuries that really just became debilitating. I I still deal with the back injuries to this day. But, again, just the relationships I fostered, I'll have forever in the memory. So Lisa Nichols
That's so beautiful. Well, tell me about those injuries. You know, what did that I mean, because let me ask you this. Because a lot of high performing individuals, a lot of times, tie their identity to what they do and their performance. Right? It's kind of a performance. Yeah. I've had to I've had to, unravel some of that myself, you know, as I've gotten older. But was your identity tied to that at all? And if it was, what did that moment feel like, Erica, when you were when you had the injury and you had to step away? Erika Johnson
You are tied to it because it is it is such a big part of you. You know, I remember being so young and, like, my Halloween candy was was almost monitored and micromanaged. And, you know, when you cannot do something that you see as your whole entire future, it's, it plays on your mental. I feel like we see this a lot with, you know, athletes, especially, like, the NFL players because, you know, in reality, a lot of them come from, you know, just poverty, driven circumstances. And so that's their way out, and an injury is everything that that could ruin their future, their their financial future. So it is very hard to begin to identify as as something else when that's all you really know for an extended period of your life. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. Yeah. I I I agree. I've I've seen the same thing. And like I said, I've had to do my own internal work as I've as I've, gotten a little bit wiser. You know, that it's not I said your identity is not what you do. It's really who it's not that's not who you are is what you do. Right? And I think that, is an important journey to go through. You know, what helped you let let's talk about this because I know, like, in, twenty twenty two, your dad went through difficult health journey. Yeah. Right? And and, again, God used that, right, to kind of alter and even what you're doing today. Can you take us into that season? And just what caregiving in that season, you said you kinda felt like you lost yourself a little bit. Erika Johnson
Yeah. I did. I think anyone who has has cared for a loved one to that extent can relate because your needs become the back burner. So working out, just just the simple things, keeping your house cleaned and eating right. You're you're in survival mode at that point. And myself, my family, we were just trying to survive. My dad was diagnosed in twenty twenty two with amyloidosis, and there is not a lot of medical data on the type that he had. He had, severe amyloidosis that attacked his heart, liver, and lungs, which is very rare. Typically, it, identifies in one vital organ, so you can only do two transplants at one. So he ended up getting a heart and a liver, and then they treated the lungs, but it was just such a long recovery process. He had to learn how to walk, talk, swallow. I mean, his fine motor skills were completely gone. He couldn't even brush his teeth. So it turned our family just completely into his caregivers. And so, again, just I did lose myself for a bit, but I found myself as well. So it's it's the blessing that he's here. I my faith never faltered. My my family's faith never faltered. Even when people were saying, we've never seen this. We don't really know. He's a case study. You know, just be prepared. I didn't allow my mind to go there. Mhmm. I believe in God. I also believe in in the universe. And so every day, you know, I fasted. I I will talk about it now. I I privately fasted for the public reward, but I also did my three six nine method in my journal. So every single day, I would write my dad's gonna have a successful heart and liver transplant, and I didn't allow any negative thought, any negative person into my ether during that time. And today, he is back golfing and happy and healthy. So yeah. Lisa Nichols
Wow. Thank god. Thank god. Well and I'm just thinking, you know, Erica, as you were saying that it attacked his heart, his liver, and his lungs. Right? And people are like, we've never seen this before, but that didn't stop God. That didn't stop God. This is like God's like, I got this. Right? You know? So, but, you know, so you you said you did find yourself. And I know that one of the things that you did, was, you know, entered the Miss Missouri pageant. Erika Johnson
I did. Lisa Nichols
I did. Tell us about that. That was twenty twenty four. Erika Johnson
Yes. That was twenty twenty four. I actually won the Miss Missouri USA People's Choice Awardee, and it was just it it almost reminded me a lot of my time as a gymnast because of the dedication and the training. Mhmm. I have so much respect for the women that enter into these pageants because you're just on the forefront, every flaw, every insecurity. You have to really know who you are, trust yourself, love yourself through it all no matter whatever the judges or, you know, the audience, the people say. But it was just such a beautiful experience for me. And, again, so many friendships, so many doors have opened. I'm eternally grateful for that. Lisa Nichols
Was it hard to say yes to that? Because I think I think you had a friend, didn't you, Erica, if I remember? You had a friend that said you should do this. I mean, was it was it hard to say yes to that? Erika Johnson
She kind of just threw me in it, and she was like, hey. You we were at her birthday dinner. She was the former Miss Missouri in twenty twenty two, and she's like, you're you're doing this. And I was like, okay. I was like, do you think I can? And she's like, absolutely. So, just having that push, you know, I I love a good girl's girl. So Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Falling. Lisa Nichols
So So you had a little bit of a push there, but, it turned out well. And just getting the people's choice award, Erica, come on. That was the people. Erika Johnson
Thank you. Lisa Nichols
Voting. You know? It's so amazing. So let me because this is, I see it in young girls, you know, beauty, outward beauty. So many girls are plagued with comparison. Right? And then how how is your definition how has your philosophy around beauty evolved? I mean, it probably evolved even during that time, but talk to young girls about this. Erika Johnson
Mhmm. So beauty is surface. It's skin deep, and we all need to understand that it doesn't matter how much Botox filler, ice facing we're going to age. So you need to find beauty from within and exude that. You know, beauty is, bringing someone behind you and and encouraging them. Beauty can show up in so many different ways. It's not just vanity. And being around these women who are drop dead gorgeous and then you see that we all have our insecurities, but then just persevering, pushing and encouraging each other through that, You know, that's beauty. So Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. That's good. That is good. How about, you know, how about, you know, how they see themselves with worth? You know? Because a lot of times, you know I mean, let let's just tie it all together here. Like, what we do sometimes gives us our sense of worth. How we look gives us our sense of worth. Talk about that a little bit. Erika Johnson
Well, you know, for me, I've I've really worked hard to master detachment detachment from validation primarily because when you need validation, you're not whole. You almost have to become indifferent to that. I am not gonna be everyone's cup of tea. My look's not gonna be everyone's cup of tea, and I am so okay with that. So I think more women really need to become comfortable in their own skin. There was a time early in my journey, I didn't even wanna leave the house without makeup. And as I as I aged, it's funny. You take better care of yourself as you get older. Right? And I'm like, wow. My skin is actually really nice. Like, I have great hair. Like, why am I not embracing myself as me? Why do I need these these outer, you know, things to make me beautiful? So yeah. Lisa Nichols
That's good. That's good. Well, let's go back to what you're doing today. You guys, because of your dad, really, you started on this, you know, what is it called? Cold press? Erika Johnson
Yes. Cold pressing. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Tell us about that. It was really how, you know, how has that mission, really kinda shaped you and what you're doing? Tell our listeners about that. Erika Johnson
Absolutely. So I've been juicing now for going on eleven years, and I was doing it for myself for health benefits, obviously, being a gymnast, having to always be on top of my diet. And then I would do it for family. They'd be over and they're like, oh my god. This juice is so good. And I'm like, are you guys just blowing smoke? But, you know, when I was doing the pageant, I ended up doing a charity boot camp, and we rolled out the juice just to see because the feedback had been so good. And I've been giving it to my dad while he was in the hospital waiting on his transplant. And his doctor was like, whatever you're doing, keep doing it. He's like, we have been trying to get his numbers to trend, trying to find a way to get healthy get healthy whole foods into his body that would sustain him. And his numbers were looking good. His energy was looking good. His color was coming back. And so I was like, you know, if I can do this for my dad who's got such a major catastrophic diagnosis, maybe I should roll this out to the world. And then we sold out at the boot camp within forty five minutes. Was not expecting that. Wow. Yes. I was the host of the boot camp, so my sister just took the initiative to take preorders. Mind you, this was smack in the middle of the pageant. And so I was working with a speech coach. I was working with my walking coach. I'm in the gym twice a day. I'm in this I'm doing all these different things. I did not have time to start a juice company, but we were because we had the preorder. So Nice. Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Oh my goodness. That is so awesome. I love that. I love that. Well okay. So this is funny. So our nutritionist, you know, had said to me, you need to start juicing. So I have a juicer. Tell us about this, Erica, because I'm like, wow. It takes so many carrots. It takes so much to just get one little glass of juice. Yes. Give us give us your give us your, secret sauce, I guess, if you will, on on how you practically do the juicing. Okay. I'd love for you to talk about that. And then maybe your favorite juicing recipe.Erika Johnson
Yeah. Absolutely. So I would definitely say anyone who's juicing, whether it's home or it's a business, you have to love it because it takes time, you know, the prep cleanup. We really I don't like to use the word pride too much, but we really try to exude excellence in how we deliver our products. So we do not use any additives, any preservatives. We don't use any harsh chemicals to clean even our kitchen space. So we're soaking everything in, like, baking soda or apple cider vinegar. We typically take the skin off of the cucumbers because it's very hard for the body to digest, same with, the lemons. So it's it's very tedious. So that's why I say you have to really, really love it. A lot of people do it to make money, and let's be real. We all wanna make income in what we do. We're doing this a lot for the health benefits primarily. So, yeah. My my favorite recipe too, I would say, is the beat happy. I like it the most because we have managed to find a way to make beets not taste like earth. It's it's some beets, it's some pineapples, it's a few other good good Oh. Not just things, but that really helps to kinda cut out that beet flavor and still give you those massive cardiovascular benefits. So Lisa Nichols
So it's called beet happy? Beet happy. Beet happy. Well, I, I grew up in the South. I grew up in Kentucky, and so my mom was an excellent southern cook, and, she pickled beets. Erika Johnson
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
And I grew up loving pickled beets. Now it's probably got sugar in there. Erica, that's not good for you, but, I I'll eat a beet salad any day of the week. I love beets. Right? So, I love that. So where can you find the juice? Do you order online, or where is it? Erika Johnson
So we have a store on Main Street, the heart of historic Saint Charles, Missouri. So our address is two fifteen North Main Street, Saint Charles, Missouri six three three zero one. And then we're also online on our Instagram, so we have a lot of people that will message us. Again, like I mentioned, we have not mastered, and we're not really looking to put any type of preservative in our juice that we don't really ship. We can't. It's just so expensive because after five days, any juice anywhere that you go and you see that's still on the shelf, the enzymes are already breaking down. And I I'm not knocking any of these other juice companies, but the point in cold pressed juice is to really get the nutritional, value of it. So our Instagram is juice e j by erika j. So you can always DM us, swing by the store, and, yeah. Lisa Nichols
I'm I'm gonna come check it out. I'm gonna go I'm thinking I better come get my juice from you because I'm just not sure I have the the patience. I mean, it it is it is fun, but it is it's detailed, you know, and it does take a lot of time. Gosh. Erica, I've got so many more questions for you, but we do need to take a quick break, and then we'll be right back with Erica Johnson on the Something Extra podcast. AD
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Welcome back, everyone, to the Something Extra podcast with my friend, Erica Johnson. So, Erica, I have absolutely loved our conversations so far. And I know that from studying you and reading about you, preparing for this interview today, that you're very passionate about food deserts. Erika Johnson
Oh, yeah. Very much so. Lisa Nichols
Tell me more about that. We have a lot of food deserts. Right? Erika Johnson
Yeah. Saint Louis has a huge deficit of food deserts. So before I, you know, obviously, have my juice company, I was doing real estate, and I was, specifically rehabilitating Saint Louis City because there are so many just derelict rundown buildings, and that creates dangers for, you know, our children when you're living next to an abandoned building and whatnot. So not only that, really just trying to stimulate tax dollars and whatnot. But while I was down there, I would notice there was nowhere for me to really go and get healthy foods as a as a lunch option, and that frustrated me. Here I am, like, well, we pay our tax dollars as well. You know, why is there not an organic section in the snooks or in the local grocery store? So, yeah, it's it's it's definitely an issue that needs to be further addressed. So Lisa Nichols
Well, what do we need to do? I mean, what what can we do, Erica? Erika Johnson
Advocate. Advocate and and, you know, write to the right people. Like myself, I was out rehabbing these these neighborhoods, creating the tax dollars, fighting for the tax abatements. At the time, our current mayor of St. Louis, Kara Spencer, was the alderwoman in the ward where I was rehabbing, my homes, and she just really went to bat for me in helping me get, maxed, you know, benefits on on the tax abatements because these homes were imploding, crumbling at the foundation, and sometimes the city would only wanna give me fifty percent. And I'm like, hey. You know, we're rebuilding this community. We need we need help. We need support. So like I mentioned earlier, just reaching back and helping someone. So I am just forever grateful to care care for extending her hand and her resources to help, you know, execute my vision. So Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. Are you still doing that to this day, Erica? Erika Johnson
I'm not. I love, love, love rehabbing. However, it is very tedious. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. Erika Johnson
And right now with the juice, I find a lot of joy, and it still is helping. So Lisa Nichols
Absolutely. Well, tell me this. What what do you think like, when when you're thinking about a underserved community, what might people not really understand? We've done a lot. Are you familiar with Lucas Ruggley? Mhmm. Shout out to Lucas Ruggley with Love the Lou. Erika Johnson
Oh, I would Lisa Nichols
love to hear that. Amazing things. Goodness gracious. Oh, I mean, we've there's, the Tabernacle Community Development Center. How about that, Andre Alexander? Do you know him, Erica? Erika Johnson
It is. Yes. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Amazing. But they're doing a lot of that. But what what do you think people might not really understand about these underserved communities? Erika Johnson
I don't think they understand the need. You know? I, for a while, have done charity events with the Urban League where they have blessed me to be able to use their facilities to house my charity events. And the very first year that I did it, I gave away laptops and propane fire tanks that you would see, like, out on the patios and whatnot. And it didn't register to me that that's not what they need. So we need to really identify the need and then execute. So the years following that, I really prioritized understanding what they said I took notes. They needed socks. They needed, you know, yeah, basic living essentials. And so we can't help if we're not doing our due diligence and and and asking and then, again, executing on it. So Lisa Nichols
Yeah. That's so good. I love what you just said. Because I think a lot of times, we assume. We assume. We assume and presume what is needed. Right? But you've gotta talk to people. You've got to actually, build relationships and understand what the needs are because we can't Yeah. We're not gonna we're not gonna, hit the mark. Right? Erika Johnson
And a lot of times, you know, if we're being honest, if it doesn't affect us directly, sometimes we become oblivious. And I think as a people, that's how we better ourselves. That's how we better the communities that we live in by sometimes going out of our comfort zone to address these issues. I have so much love and respect for the Chris Long Foundation, him and his wife, Meg. Chris was our former, Rams, NFL player. He has an organization that I would love for so many people to to get involved with. It's called the little I'm sorry. Not the little bit. They're the, ed zone, but they partner with the little bit. And so they have now put lockers into underserved, schools, and these lockers are incredible. So they're filled with toiletries, coats, all sorts of things. And these children don't have to ask. They can just go into the locker, get what they need. They don't have to feel embarrassed or ashamed. They literally can just go and go about their day. And, you know, Chris has made it his business to make sure that children are comfortable. You know, think about children that may not have deodorant or toothpaste. They're not gonna be confident in school, which means they're not gonna be, you know, paying attention. Or if they're hungry, you're not paying attention because your mind is elsewhere, but he has really made it his business to create a safe space for these children. So there's some great organization. We just Lisa Nichols
I love that. Good. Well and then something that you just said, Erica, just made me think. You said Chris partnered with a we we've done a lot, technology partners. Like, our team has gone and volunteered for a little bit, and we always love love the little bit foundation. Erika Johnson
Amazing. Lisa Nichols
But sometimes, you don't have to do you know, collaboration is really important in this space, I believe. Right? Erika Johnson
It is. Yeah. We, Veroni is is powerful as our partners and and those who we we we do partner up with, you know. And, again, it's just asking and and seeing what the need is because that's how we get things done. So Mhmm. Lisa Nichols
Well, I love I love everything that you've done. I mean, you've got such a just a very I can just tell such a giving heart. And that I'm sure, Erica, you know, a lot of that spans from your comes out of your faith and what you believe, you know, is how we're to treat one another. Right? Our neighbor. Erika Johnson
Yeah. And God doesn't bless us to to not bless others. You know? Yeah. That's how he wants it to be. So yeah. Lisa Nichols
Well, tell me a little bit about your faith. Did you grow up in a faith filled family? Erika Johnson
I did. Yes. Faith is definitely at the heart. Grandparents were deacons. My dad is a deacon. It's just in us. You know, we grew up in a Baptist church and then transitioned briefly to nondenominational and back to Baptist. However, I believe God comes you know, however you wanna identify, God is God. And Lisa Nichols
yeah. It's not about a denomination. Right? It's about a relationship. That's right. That's so good. Well, you know, I mean, you do have a journalism degree, and I know that you've had the opportunity to interview some really iconic people. Right? Ozzie Smith, Orlando Pace, Nelly. You know, how have you used your voice intentionally in those spaces? Erika Johnson
So I would love to just set it straight. I actually do not have my journalism degree. I was thrown into journalism. Lisa Nichols
Oh, I can see a pattern here. You've been thrown into a a lot of things. I know. Erika Johnson
Yeah. Someone said they're like, you're very articulate. I love your look. I want you to, you know, try this. And I did an interview and it went very well, and they hired me. Oh my goodness. Yeah. Getting to work with Ozzy Smith. Oh my goodness. Such a humble, humble giant. And with his wife, Yolanda, I I just love when I have the opportunity to engage with them. Neli also doing incredible things here with, you know, St. Jude's and all of that. Orlando Pace, another person who's just very philanthropic doing great things. So it's it's a it's it's a pleasure. Lisa Nichols
Oh, that is awesome. Well, tell me about this. You know, today we have all these influencers. You know, we consider you an influencer, Erica. But how what is the responsibility that comes with that? I mean, when you've been given a platform like you have Yeah. There is definitely influence that's happening and impact that's happening. But what is the responsibility that, you also carry? Erika Johnson
You know, the term fiduciary, it's like we owe that to our our people. And we are we've been blessed with that platform and to misuse it is is just wrong. So to me, being affluent comes with balance. And, you know, I spoke earlier about the art of detachment, being able to confidently detach from situations and circumstances that are not serving your highest calling, that are not going to be beneficial to you, understanding that you do not have to say yes to every commitment, because how can you be a leader if you're not self preserved? You know? So really just being intentional with your yeses and and okay with sometimes having to say no. But yeah. Lisa Nichols
You're speaking my language because every yes comes at the opportunity of something else. Right? And I I just think I've said this so many times. I think, like, for a leader, one of the most important qualities, Erica, is discernment. Erika Johnson
It is. Lisa Nichols
Because there's a lot of good. Right? But you want the best. You want the the the things that only you can do and the things that are, like you said, that are in alignment with how you've been called. Erika Johnson
Yeah. Right? That's my prayer. You know, a lot of people and I'm not saying I don't pray for other things, but, typically, the the fundamental base of my prayer is wisdom and discernment because the wisdom and discernment, you can do so much. You can avoid so many pitfalls. So Lisa Nichols
Yes. I could not agree more. Yeah. This is good. Let me ask you a question. If someone, is listening today and they feel like they've lost themselves or maybe they feel stuck or maybe they feel, you know, let's call it a wilderness, You know, what what would you want them to hear? How do they get themselves out of that? Erika Johnson
I had someone actually call me for mentorship about this very thing. I encouraged them to fast. There's so much power in that. When my dad was diagnosed, we treated him over the course of two years with one set of doctors until my mother advocated and said, you know, hey. We we need a different set of eyes. And we got to this other set, and they said, your dad, if he has what we believe he has, he has three months, maybe. He's at risk for sudden death. And so I understood the dire need for to hear God's voice, and so I immediately went to a fast. I gave up music. I gave up food. I gave up everything pretty much that was of the flesh, and I said, god, this is my ask in that. And for him to deliver on something that was, again, just unheard of, and, I do have to share this. The day that my dad got his organs, his heart went into AFib, and they actually had to resuscitate him. And the doctor came in, he said, we've reached the point of no return. He said, so if we don't get organs, you guys need to get prepared. You may have, you know, a day, a few hours. And I remember sitting at my dad's bedside, and I said, okay, god. I've done everything. I surrender. We got organs that night. Lisa Nichols
Wow. Wow, Erica. So That's a beautiful thank you for sharing that. You've done everything. You've fasted. You've prayed. You've scripture tells us that, right, to fast and pray. Yeah. And and just like, god, I've done it. Everything that I know that you've called me to do, and the rest is up to you. Yeah. Erika Johnson
He may not deliver when we want. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. The timing. Erika Johnson
But he delivers. Yeah. He does. The neck of the hour. So yeah. Lisa Nichols
Well, that is where our faith is strengthened. You know? Right? I mean, if we could see it, if we could see everything that's that's gonna happen, that's not faith. Yeah. It's sight. You know? Walking by sight instead of walking by faith. So I just love that. Thank you so much for sharing that. Well, I'm gonna do, like, a really fun little lightning round here for you. Just a couple of, quick questions, and then I wanna talk about something extra. K. One word that describes your current season. Erika Johnson
Oof. Light. Light. Light. Yes. Mhmm. Lisa Nichols
Oh, I love that. You wanna elaborate on that at all? Erika Johnson
I feel light because, again, I've just I've released. I've detached. I am so comfortable with myself and who I am. I feel light. Lisa Nichols
Oh, that's beautiful. Love it. Favorite way to recharge? Erika Johnson
Meditation. Lisa Nichols
Meditation. Okay. Good. A person who inspires you deeply. My mother. Your mom. Oh, tell me about your mom. Erika Johnson
Oh, she is a rock star. Yeah. My mom, you know, really getting to see how she showed up as a mother, as a woman of God through the tough seasons has just been so aspirational to me in life. Amazing mother. She's a nurse. She still finds time to give back. She's involved in church. She just she gets it done. So Lisa Nichols
yeah. That's wonderful. Yeah. I mean, you've got a model, a living model right in front of you, Erica, right, in how to to live as a woman of God. That's beautiful. What's your morning routine? Do you have a daily habit or daily routine that you go through? We wanna hear it. Erika Johnson
I definitely do. For me, I get up before my feet hit the ground. I'm definitely giving gratitude to God just for even waking up such a blessing. I spend some time with myself, quiet reflection. I've spent some time with my dog, walk him. I ice my face almost every morning. Lisa Nichols
You ice your face. What does that mean? I've never had anybody say they ice their face. Give us give us your trade secret. Erika Johnson
Yes. The icing of the face closes the pores. It, like, shrinks your pores. And it's, it's also known to help with, like, any acne or any, hyperpigmentation. So it just keeps our skin youthful. Lisa Nichols
Okay. So do you put ice on your face, or do you like a really cold cloth? Or what Erika Johnson
is that? Going to a submerged ice bath. Lisa Nichols
Ice bath. Oh my goodness. I've got a friend that has a cold plunge in her bathroom. And, you know, she's like, I do the cold plunge. And I'm like, oh, I don't know so much about that, but I know the health benefits are Oh, yeah. Really good. Alright. So give your face an ice bath. I'm gonna remember that one. I know that you are high growth mindset. How do you personally learn? How do you personally grow, Erica? Erika Johnson
I I listen more than I talk, especially in specific rooms because we're not gonna learn if we're just yapping. You gotta sometimes be quiet, be that fly on the wall, and observe. So that and, I don't I I believe in downtime. I don't believe in idle time. So I will take the time to rest and recharge, but, you know, I'm not gonna fill my my my valuable time with aimless chatter. I typically like to podcast or read or get in nature. So yeah. Lisa Nichols
Okay. That's good. I love that. That is a beautiful phrase. You believe in downtime, not idle time, and there is a difference. So the downtime would be your reading of a book or taking a walk in nature. Right? But it's not just sitting, scrolling through social media Yeah. Or scrolling through the television. Erika Johnson
Yes. I think we we we all do. We're in the times where social media is so relevant, but I do believe we have to compartmentalize that into a fraction of the day. It cannot consume a day. And that requires discipline to say, okay. My my five or my fifteen minutes, whatever that looks like for you, that's it. That's it. That's detachment. Lisa Nichols
So That's so good. So good. What are you most excited about right now? The Juice Company? Erika Johnson
Yes. I am. I mean, like I mentioned, we we have the store on Main Street. We moved from Fox Park, and Main Street is just it's so much organic natural foot traffic. There's so many festivals. It's just a very exciting time to see what this next chapter will look like for us. So Lisa Nichols
Oh, well, I'm excited for you, and I'm excited to come and visit. Well, Erica, this is called something extra. I ask every guest this question, and I'd love to hear your answer. What do you believe is the something extra that every leader needs? Erika Johnson
They need balance. They need balance in God, balance in family, work life, balance on what they say yes to, but balanced. Lisa Nichols
Oh, that's good. I've never had anybody say that before out of three hundred and eighty guests. So there you go. I love it. Yeah. But, you know, I always say, you know, I talk about soul care and self care when you can't pour from an empty cup. Right? And if you are out of balance, it's the the wheel on wheels on the bus. One of them is flat. It's not gonna be a fun ride. Erika Johnson
Right? Lisa Nichols
So that is so good. Well, thank you so much, Erica. This has been so much fun. I've enjoyed this time spending with you, and I just know that your wisdom and your story, it's gonna help our listeners, and that's the goal. Erika Johnson
Thank you so much. It's been truly a pleasure spending time with you. I enjoyed the conversation. Lisa Nichols
You too. Have a great rest of the day. You too. Announcer
Something extra with Lisa Nichols is a Technology Partners production. Copyright Technology Partners Inc twenty nineteen. To learn more about this week's guest, check out the show notes at tpi dot co slash podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review. Thank you for listening to Something Extra. 
